ORAL PRESENTATIONS

1. Read the quote below. Do you agree with the author? Why / Why not?
"The human brain starts working the moment you are born and never stops until you stand up to speak
in public." (Sir George Jessel)

2. Take the following quiz to find out the current level of your presentation skills. Choose one
answer (A, B or C) for each number. The teacher will indicate the scoring procedure and the
interpretation of your score.

A. I have limited or no experience of presenting

1 B. I have some experience of presenting
C. I have a wide experience of presenting in a variety of situations
A. I usually feel nervous before and during presentations
B. I sometimes feel a little nervous when presenting but control my nerves
2
I am usually relaxed about the idea of presenting; I only feel nervous in
C.
certain situations such as big occasions or large audiences
A. I think preparation is important but am not sure of the best method
3 B. I know preparation is important but sometimes do not prepare
C. I always prepare and rehearse presentations
A. I include many details to make sure I don’t miss anything important
I choose the key points I want to make and use specific evidence to
B.
4 support the facts
I only use information that supports my key message and put details in
C.
supporting documents
I put my presentation together in the order in which important ideas
A.
come to me
I structure my presentation in an orderly sequence with one thing
5 B.
following after another
I structure my presentation in a logical way using clear transitions that
C.
make it easy for the audience to follow
A. I use visual aids as a prompt in case I forget what I want to say
B. I sometimes use visual aids to act as a reminder of what comes next
6
I only use visual aids to help the audience understand a key point or to
C.
make my presentation more engaging
A. I don’t know what rhetorical techniques are
7 B. I’ve heard of rhetorical techniques but never tried to use one
C. I use rhetorical techniques in my presentations for more impact
A. I’m not sure how to stand or what to do with my arms
8 B. I know posture is important and make some gestures when I present
C. I move and stand well using appropriate gestures for emphasis
A. I have a quiet, soft or monotonous voice
B. I am trying to improve voice volume, pitch and pace
9
I can vary the way I use my voice to add emphasis and engage the
C.
audience
A. I’m afraid the audience will ask something I can’t answer
B. I prepare for questions and can manage them effectively
10
I am comfortable with questions and can handle interruptions and
C.
challenges easily
Adapted from www.speak-first.com
3. Expand the mind map adding three elements from the box to each circle. An example is given.
amount details key points rapport
audience enthusiasm objective repetition
close evidence opening setting
confidence eye contact pace transitions
contrast format pitch tripling
design gestures posture volume

PREPARATION

MAGIC
CONTENT
INGREDIENTS

BODY ORAL STRUCTURE

LANGUAGE PRESENTATION

VOICE VISUAL AIDS

RHETORICAL
TECHNIQUES

repetition contrast tripling

4. Divide into eight pairs/small groups corresponding to the eight circles in the previous mind
map. Read the assigned role card and prepare a mini-presentation for your colleagues to pass
them information about your topic. Then one member of each pair/group gives the presentation
in front of the class in no more than two minutes. The other members take notes and evaluate
each speaker following the checklist below.

ORAL PRESENTATION CHECKLIST

Item Yes No
1. Did the presentation have a clear purpose?  
2. Was the presentation adjusted to the audience?  
3. Did the presentation last within the time limit?  
4. Were there some obvious key points?  
5. Were they explained or supported with sufficient evidence?  
6. Did the presentation have a strong opening?  
7. Did the presenter indicate transitions between points?  
8. Did the presentation have a strong close?  
9. Were there any visual aids?  
10. If Yes, were they used effectively?  
11. Were there any rhetorical techniques?  
12. If Yes, were they used effectively?  
13. Did the presenter project their voice well?  
14. Did the presenter change pace?  
15. Did the presenter change pitch?  
16. Did the presenter have a good posture?  
17. Did the presenter use gestures effectively?  
18. Did the presenter keep eye contact with the audience?  
19. Was the presenter confident?  
20. Was the presenter enthusiastic?  
21. Did the presenter build rapport with the audience?  

5. Listen to an extract about the top ten presentation mistakes and complete the list. According
to the speaker, what can you do to avoid these mistakes?
(listening material from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgLNCn9gY54)

Mistake #1 ...................................... Mistake #6 ......................................

Mistake #2 ...................................... Mistake #7 ......................................
Mistake #3 ...................................... Mistake #8 ......................................
Mistake #4 ...................................... Mistake #9 ......................................
Mistake #5 ...................................... Mistake #10 ......................................

STRUCTURE

6. Listen to the beginning of a presentation and write down the five elements that make up a
classical opening. Then prepare an opening of your own based on the same pattern.
(listening material from http://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_allocca_why_videos_go_viral.html)

1.........................................................................
2.........................................................................
3........................................................................
4........................................................................
5........................................................................

7. Listen to the openings of five different presentations. What techniques (‘hooks’) do they use to
capture the audience’s attention from the start?
(listening material from http://www.ted.com/talks)

Opening 1 …………………………………………………………….................
Opening 2 …………………………………………………………….................
Opening 3 …………………………………………………………….................
Opening 4 …………………………………………………………….................
Opening 5 …………………………………………………………….................
8. Revise and improve your opening from 6 using one of the above techniques.

9. Fill in the blanks with the verbs in italics to find several ways of giving an outline at the
beginning of a presentation. Combining the phrases with the same number from all groups (e.g.
A1+B1+C1), will give you a complete sentence (i.e. I’m going to ... so I’ll start by ... and then I’ll
...).
I’m going to...
A. report show take talk tell
1. ............... to you about the growing income inequality in the US...
2. ............... on the study we conducted in 4,000 companies worldwide...
3. ............... you about the bad side of the technologies we love so much...
4. ............... you that civic apathy doesn’t actually exist...
5. ............... a look at the invisible information flows in social media...
... so I’ll start by...
B. bringing filling giving making outlining
1. ............... a few observations about the political set of causes...
2. ............... you up-to-date on the latest findings about leadership...
3. ............... the unintended consequences of technological openness...
4. ............... you in on the background to the community project we did...
5. ............... you an overview of how filters work...
... and then I’ll...
C. discuss highlight make put talk
1. ................ the economic changes that have led to the rise of the super-rich.
2. ................ in more depth the implications of our observations.
3. ............... the situation into perspective.
4. ............... some recommendations about community engagement.
5. ............... you through my theory about the algorithmic editing of the Web.

10. Match the signposts to their functions.

1. to conclude a. to change the topic

2. to elaborate on b. to do a deeper analysis
3. to go back c. to finish the talk
4. to move on d. to give a wider perspective
5. to look into e. to give only the basics
6. to recap f. to make the next point
7. to sum up g. to refer to an earlier point
8. to turn to h. to repeat the main points

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

11. Listen to the closes of five different presentations and number the techniques in the order
you hear them. Which is the most effective?
(listening material from http://www.ted.com/talks)

call to action  dramatic summary  emotional message  loop  quote 

12. Prepare a strong close to go with the opening you revised in 8. Then present them both to the
rest of your group.
VISUAL AIDS AND BODY LANGUAGE

13. Watch a short video about the use of PowerPoint in presentations. Identify eight common
mistakes people make.
(video material from http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=MjcO2ExtHso)

14. What other mistakes can you add to the list? What should you do to avoid ‘Death by
PowerPoint’?

15. Look at the photos and say what each speaker is doing wrong.

16. Watch a short video about hand gestures in presentations. What gestures should you avoid
and why? How can you achieve that?
(video material from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ooOQQOQdhH8)

VOICE AND RHETORICAL TECHNIQUES

17. Practise saying the following sentence, each time stressing the underlined word. How does
the meaning of the sentence change?
1. I will show you how to make an immediate impact on your audience.
2. I will show you how to make an immediate impact on your audience.
3. I will show you how to make an immediate impact on your audience.
4. I will show you how to make an immediate impact on your audience.
5. I will show you how to make an immediate impact on your audience.
6. I will show you how to make an immediate impact on your audience.
7. I will show you how to make an immediate impact on your audience.
8. I will show you how to make an immediate impact on your audience.
9. I will show you how to make an immediate impact on your audience.
10. I will show you how to make an immediate impact on your audience.

18. Follow the model to rewrite these sentences in a more emphatic way. Pay attention to tenses.
MODEL
I’m going to tell you why Apple is different from other computer companies.
 What I’m going to do is tell you why Apple is different from other computer companies.
1. I’ll show you how to make profit in times of crisis.
2. I’ll be making a case for stricter regulations.
3. I’d like to approach this issue from another angle.
4. I’d like you to ask yourselves a simple question.
5. I’m saying we need specialists.

19. Practise saying the sentences you rewrote in 18 stressing key words and pausing after them.

20. Look at two presentation extracts based on the pattern Statement + Rhetorical Question +
Answer, in which a key word is repeated for effectiveness. Complete the frame below with
information relevant to your interests using the same technique: first state the situation, then
ask and answer a rhetorical question.

I would like you to consider the future of higher education. What are the prospects? The prospects are
excellent, but only for the right kind of student.

The obvious disadvantage of studying abroad is the high tuition cost. But what is the main advantage?
The main advantage is the high quality of education.
1.
The situation is this: …………………………………………………………………...…………………
………………… is the …………………?
The ………………… is ………………………………………………………………..…………………
2.
The situation is this: …………………………………………………………………...…………………
………………… are the …………………?
The ………………… are ……………………………………………………………...…………………

21. Complete the following quotes based on dramatic contrast or tripling techniques.
1. “One small step for man, one …………………………………………………….”
(Neil Armstrong)
2. “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask ……………………………….
…………………………………………………………………...” (John F. Kennedy)
3. “The difficult: that which can be done immediately. The impossible: that
………………………………………………………………….” (George Santayana)
4. “One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine .................
.................................................................................................” (Elbert Hubbard)
5. “Microsoft isn’t evil, they just ………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………” (Linus Torvalds)

6. “I …………………, I …………………, I …………………” (Julius Caesar)

7. “By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is .....................; Second, by
imitation, which is .....................; and third by experience, which is .................”
(Confucius)
8. “There are three roads to ruin: ...................., ..................... and ..................... The most pleasant is
with ....................., the quickest is with ....................., but the surest is with .....................”
(Georges Pompidou)
9. “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of ....................., ..................... and
........................................................................” (Colin Powell) 10. “The Internet is so ......................, so
..................... and ..................... that for some people it is a complete substitute to life.”
(Andrew Brown)

22. Listen to four extracts from a presentation about social inequality and identify the rhetorical
techniques used by the speaker. Also note what words she stresses or repeats.
(listening material from http://www.ted.com/talks/chrystia_freeland_the_rise_of_the_new_global_super_rich.html)

Extract 1 ……………………………………………………………....................
Extract 2 ……………………………………………………………....................
Extract 3 ……………………………………………………………....................
Extract 4 ……………………………………………………………....................

23. Watch a short video about Steve Jobs’ presentation style and take note of the speaker’s
recommendations.
(video material from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-ntLGOyHw4)

24. Prepare an effective five-minute presentation of an interesting and relevant topic and deliver
it in front of your colleagues. Make a dazzling presentation!